Call to Restore Yosemite's Hidden Wonders

[callady]

Call to restore Yosemite's hidden wonders

Campaign is growing to remove national park's dam and return valley to its natural state

Dan Glaister in Hetch Hetchy
Monday October 31, 2005
The Guardian


The wonders of California's Yosemite valley are familiar to visitors from all over the world: the towering granite face of El Capitan, soaring more than 1,000 metres above the valley floor, the fractured-looking Half Dome, the plummeting waters of Bridalveil Falls. But few of the 3.3 million visitors to Yosemite every year have heard of the national park's other wonders, the imposing granite rock face of Kolana, or the twin waterfalls of Wapama and Tueeulala in neighbouring Hetch Hetchy valley.

The reason is simple: Hetch Hetchy valley lies beneath 90 metres (about 300ft) of water, kept in place by the concrete wall of the O'Shaughnessy dam. But a movement to remove the dam and return the valley to its natural splendour is gaining momentum. Spurred on by a review initiated by the California governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, activists are optimistic that one of the most controversial building projects undertaken in the western US may soon be reversed.

In 1913, two decades after Yosemite was dedicated as a national park, Congress agreed to build a dam to provide water and power for San Francisco, 167 miles away. That decision, which pitted the interests of industry and economic growth against the environment and quality of life, remains as controversial today as it was almost 100 years ago.

The Hetch Hetchy valley is a serene spot. Granite rock formations tower over the reservoir, the burnt orange bark and pale green leaves of manzanita trees mingle with firs, bracken and even grapevines at the water's edge. One end of the nine-mile long reservoir is dominated by the concrete hulk of the dam and the sound of water rushing into the Tuolumne river. Signs inform visitors that dogs, bikes, swimming and boating are forbidden, and the gates are locked at sunset.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,1605121,00.html

[wryter2000]

1. Ummm

Yes and no.

1) what is it going to look like having been underwater for 90 years? As a friend said to me once, "What are they going to do? Go to Trees R Us?"

2) this is an in-your-face by Ahnuld to get at the liberals in SF. Hetch Hetchy shouldn't have been dammed back in 1913, but to want to undo that now without addressing how the water will be replaced is a cruel hoax of "environmentalism."

[slaveplanet]

6. And don't forget the purity

which is unparalleled.

Sorry folks this is a VERY bad idea

Hetch is the very reason SF is a liberal bastion.

or would you rather have chemical stew like just about everywhere else in the country.

This is another sneak attack to privatize resourses.

[Wickerman]

2. Something isn't right, and with Schwarzenegger behind the push

ya gotta know that someone as economic interests in mind. I'm thinking Arnie's evnergy buddies got another scheme of some kind cooked up. Clues in these two small paragraphs?

Environmental Defence says that by diverting water from other dams, 95% of the water and 73% of the power provided by Hetch Hetchy would be retained. It puts the cost of the scheme at a maximum of $1.65bn (about £930m).

Critics counter that the true cost is closer to $10bn, and that the notion that the power shortfall could be made up by conservation and the development of gas and solar power is naive.

[callady]

3. Maybe Becthel

could gain a contract. They're not very good at rebuilding perhaps better at bringing it down?

The dam should never have been put up. David Brower saw this as his one regret in life, in that they were willing to compromise on Hetch Hetchy

[Retrograde]

7. it's a two-for-one deal

look environmentally conscious and at the same punish San Francisco and a large part of the Bay Area for not voting for you by taking away their water.

Did you know that the state has a private cabin at Hetch Hetchy where certain elected officials can stay and be educated about water issues? I was lucky enough once to spend a weekend there with a local municipal utilities commissioner (guests had to pay and bring and prepare their own food, so it wasn't that big a boondoggle). I wonder if Ahnold ever does this: according to the cabin's log the then-governor Wilson seemed to need a lot of educating. Anyway, because access is restricted to foot traffic and the only boat allowed belongs to the watershed manager the water is among the purest - and best tasting - in the country.

It's a beautiful place, even with the reservoir.

[joeunderdog]

13. Exxon learned that low supply = record profits.

Brown outs and hurricaines have been wonderful for energy kingpins.

[Journeyman]

4. Before & Now Pix. . .

Before. . .



Now. . .

[Say_What]

14. Other before pix...

[LeftyMom]

5. The Bee ran a really great series on Hetch Hetchy and restoration

Here's a link to the whole series so far:

http://www.sacbee.com/content/opinion/story/10638026p-11432525c.html

[damntexdem]

8. But Hetch Hetchy water is so good.

More seriously, how long would it take for the grandeur to return once the lake were drained?

[toska]

9. Slow process

I read an article about this about 6 months ago. I believe the plan was to slowly drain the lake over several decades and let the ecosystem gradually build back.

[Retrograde]

10. but would it be the same ecosystem?

the valley now has almost a century of accumulated silt as a result of the dam. Will that be removed, too?

[Thor_MN]

12. I think it would happen very quickly, left alone, in about 150 years

it would be very much like what it was before the dam. You have to take the long view when discussing ecosystems.

[triguy46]

11. Let Halliburton get the bid...

Isn't the answer these days to drill wells in order to protect nature?

[Say_What]

15. and SF and the Penninsula's water would come from where??

Very bad idea... water coming from Hetch Hetchy travels through the Pulgas Water Temple in San Mateo County before emptying into Crystal Springs Reservoir.